Apollo Vredestein has today unveiled an ultra-modern tread depth measuring station at its facilities in Enschede (NL). The new unit will make visitors more aware of the importance of having the correct tread depth in terms of both their safety and the environment. The station was built in accordance with Apollo Vredestein’s ISO 14001 environmental certification, as was the tyre pressure station installed by the company in 2008.
Safety
It is clear that a tyre with too little tread can lead to hazardous situations, especially on wet or snowy roads. Dutch legislation requires a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm, while the benefits of the typical features of winter tyres are considerably reduced at less than 4 mm. The same applies to unevenly worn tyres and it is therefore crucial that tread depth and tyre pressure are regularly checked. A tyre pressure that is too low makes a car less stable, and can result in overheating or an uneven wear pattern. The result is irreparable damage to the tyre which in turn can lead to unsafe situations.
Unique system
The laser tread depth measuring station was developed by Procontour for police applications and large car fleets. It measures the tread depth with a laser whenever a car drives over a grid with measurement tools in the road surface. The system is capable of performing 35,000 measurements a minute and gives accurate figures at speeds of up to 120 km/h. It is equipped with a sensor and compressor that ensure that the grid is blown clean whenever a car approaches to allow the laser to take measurements. A matrix sign then indicates the tread depth of the tyre with the least tread. In the long term Apollo Vredestein aims to use the system at the facilities of business partners and at large events or locations that feature a large number of cars. The ultimate goal is to raise awareness among drivers and ensure their safety.